The european pond
turtle is the most cold resistant of the european turtles. It is found
in breeding populations in Northern Germany, Polen and the Baltic countries.
I Denmark few specimems are found every year, but a real population is
only found in Jutland around Velling Igelsø. It is not finally
determinated if they are a natural population or introduced animals, but
they have been observated for more than 100 years. They were here in the
Iron age and maybe survived in suitable places when the wether got colder.
Compared to the Baltic countries the climate is similar and they manage
to survive there. Only one nest with fully grown embryos has been
found near Ballerup back in 1970.

The northern form
of the european pond turtle is relatively large. Carapex on more than
20 cm isn`t unusual and animals above 30 cm are found. They are black
with yellow spots on carapex and body. The eyes of the males are brownred
and the female has yellow eyes. Juveniles are brownish with a size of
26 x 22 mm and a weight of about 5 g.

The european pond
turtle emerge from hibernation in the end of March or the beginning
of April and used hours of sunbasking every day all summer. It is a
carnivor and prey on water insects, water snails, leaches, fish and
amphibiens. Even during winter I have seen them eating dead frogs under
the ice. Copulation takes place all year exept in the winter, and eggs
are only deposited from May to the end of July. 2 clutches are posible
in one year. Before digging her nest the female seeks the surrounding
areas for a suitable place for days and the nest can in nature be placed
as far away as 5 kilometers from the pond. Most nests are placed on
a southern slope with sandy soil in full sun. Eggs hatches after 57-90
days and juveniles often stays in the nest until next spring. Sex in
temperature dependent and females are only produced if temperature is
28 *C or higher.

Our european pond
turtles belongs to the northern form and originate from northern Germany.
The inhabit a 450 square meter palludarium with a 50 square meter pond.
They are fed mainly on freshwater fish but find a lot of their food in
the pond that is filled with snails and water insects. In May the females
starts to leave the pond seeking for a suitible place for their eggs.
The use a southern faced slope for the nest. In the nest she deposit 10-18
eggs. Juveniles grows rapidly on earth worms, fish and insects and mature
in 4-6 years when kept inside.